Doraha, July 31
With the Assembly elections only six months away, leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal have turned aggressive in criticising the policies of the government.

Leaders and supporters of the Shiromani Akali Dal (B) literally thronged the Doraha grain market today to earn public favour for the forthcoming elections and to give an initial thrust to the party’s election campaign.

Led by their party president and former Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the Akali leaders, including former minister Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon and others, went for an all-out offensive against the government. They claimed that it had proved to be the worst ever government so far.

Mr Badal, who is not known for tough talk, accused the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, of befooling people, particularly the farmers and the downtrodden people. “Instead, he (Capt Amarinder) is concerned about his personal well-being”, Mr Badal alleged.

Terming the hike in MSP of paddy and cotton as a ‘‘great betrayal”, Mr Badal said, ‘‘No other joke can be so big as this one. This meagre increase indicates that the Congress government is least bothered about the welfare of the farmers and the personal efforts of the CM in this regard are utterly negligible but our government had taken pains to provide an increase of at least No. 40 in MSP for which we held a number of personal meetings with the central ministers.’’

‘‘We shall be definitely fighting for the genuine demands of the farmers and the exploitation that they are suffering at the hands of the ruling party. The frequent increase in the prices of diesel, unjustified stress on crop diversification, agricultural break-up and an unprecedented increase in the cases of farmers’ suicide must be accounted for and the inhuman treatment, being meted out to the peasants, should be stopped at all costs,’’ added the president.

Mr Badal said, ‘‘If agriculture has reached a saturation point in the past four and a half years, the position of industry is even worse as no new industry has been set up, the sugar mills and refineries have become outdated and the subsidies to employees have been stopped completely’’.

The former Chief Minister also ridiculed the claims of his successor that he had inherited an empty exchequer. “There is no such type of thing”, Mr Badal said, while adding, “The government runs according to a proper budgetary plan and not by the money lying in the exchequer as Capt Amarinder would make us believe”.

He alleged that the corruption had reached its peak and the government had broken all records. He observed the government had institutionalised corruption in the state, leading to the failure of the government machinery.

He regretted that Punjab, which had occupied the place of pride in the country for progress and development, had slipped to the eleventh or twelfth place.

His charges were corroborated by Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal who claimed that corruption had crept into every segment of the government. He quoted several instances wherein people had complained to him that huge money was being demanded for executing the registration of land transfers.

Mr Jagdish Garcha alleged that hundreds of crores of rupees were charged from Mr Ponty Chadha for ensuring his monopoly in liquor trade in the state. He alleged that Mr Chadha had deliberately been brought in from Uttar Pradesh to ruin the local traders.

Capt Kanwaljit claimed that several ministers of the Congress government had applied for the visa of the United States, the United Kingdom and other western countries so that they could flee the country before the election results were declared. He claimed that they were scared that their omissions and commissions would be exposed and they would have to face the law.

Capt Kanwaljit said his party would appeal to the Chief Election Commissioner of India to seize passports of all these ministers so that they are not able to flee the country.

The Akali leaders had reason to be aggressive as the
turnout at the rally was reasonably good. Besides, several leaders made it a point to attend it as, they claimed, it would set the tone for campaigning in the district.

They congratulated Mr Jagjivanpal Singh Gill for mobilising so many people.

Later, while addressing a press conference at the local Guru Nanak National College, Mr Badal said, ‘‘The role of the government should be to safeguard the interests of the poor but here the government is focusing entirely on urban development, including mega projects. Moreover, the policy of favouring some and ignoring others, is entirely unjustified. Rules should be equal for all and government should rise above all such considerations.’’

The Akali leaders later went to the residence of Mr Tejinder Singh Rampura to condole the death of his wife.

Newly elected district Congress committee chief Lakhbir Singh Rai, advocate, appealed to Congress workers to strengthen the party by holding meetings in each village to create awareness about the development programmes of the Congress government. The Congress will form the next government in the state as SAD has done nothing for the development of the state during its rule after coming into power, by misguiding the people in the name of Panth. Mr Harinder Singh Bhambri, member PCCC, also addressed the meeting.

Ludhiana, July 31
The Punjab Minister for Finance, Planning and Health, Mr Surinder Singla, today exhorted social and religious organisations as well as other voluntary bodies engaged in the service of people to establish good hospitals equipped with the latest medical equipment so as to provide better medical facilities to the poor people. Such a step would be a real service to humanity as a majority of the people were not in a position to bear the rising costs of medical treatment.

Mr Singla was addressing a function after inaugurating Bhagat Tarsem Lal Charitable Hospital at Jassian Road in Haibowal Kalan locality here. The minister, who had recently been given the portfolio of health, said that the state government was also according priority to improve the health facilities in the government institutions, particularly for the poor people.

"Both in the health and education sectors, private institutions can play an important role as they were already running a large number of good hospitals, schools and colleges, which are providing excellent services to the people."

Lauding the initiative of Bhagat Sanjeev Kumar, chairman, Bhagat Tarsem Lal Charitable Trust, in setting up a quality hospital in the backward area for the poor and needy people, Mr Singla said such saintly personalities were the real source of inspiration for the society.

Emulating the examples set by such people, other NGOs and institutions should also come forward in a big way to extend their cooperation in making such projects a success.

He announced a grant of Rs 15 lakh for the purchase of latest machinery and equipment for the hospital.

Earlier, interacting
with mediapersons, the minister remarked that with the marginal increase in the MSP of wheat and paddy, the prevailing pattern of crops in the state was no more a viable venture and the farmers would have to shift to the cash crops like vegetable, floriculture, fruits and pulses in order to improve their earnings from agriculture.

Mr Singla said that now many big players like Bharti, ITC, Reliance and Punjab Agro had entered the field of production, procurement and marketing of vegetables, fruits, flowers and other agricultural produce.

"The Punjab farmers have been paying a very heavy price in shape of financial losses to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore per year for creating food security for the country since last 15 years."

Justifying the package of Rs 1250 crore, proposed by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on the basis of Johl committee's report to make the farmers shift towards crop diversification he asserted that while ensuring food security for the country, the state had suffered on three counts - dropping of ground water level, steep increase in expenditure on power for agriculture sector and degradation of soil due to paddy sowing.

The minister held the Shiromani Akali Dal leaders, particularly Mr Parkash Singh Badal, responsible for the miserable plight of the farmers as they had always been stressing only on the increase in the MSP while completely ignoring the creation of an alternative system to prevailing crop rotation.

He dared Mr Badal to list if he had done any thing for the benefit of state farmers during his three tenures in power, except for exploiting them (the farmers) with false promises.

"The Akali leaders have been totally power hungry and have no other programme for the welfare of the state and people."

He claimed that this time the farmers were fully aware of the dubious game plan of the SAD leaders and would not be mislead by them.

Ludhiana, July 31
Floral tributes were paid to martyr Udham Singh on his 66th martyrdom day at a function organised by the Congress Seva Dal at Hanuman Mandir on Shahpur Road here today. Mr Kulwant Singh Swami, organiser of the dal, presided over the function and Mr Sushil Parashar, coordinator of the body, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Recalling the sacrifice made by him to avenge the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on Baisakhi day, Mr Parashar described him true patriot and secular person to the core who had travelled to England to kill General Michael O'Dyer for his crimes against humanity. Udham Singh was hanged by the British Government on July 31, 1940, in England, he added. Mr Ashok Parashar Pappi, general secretary, PPCC, Mr Rachpal Singh Gill, Mr Som Nath Grover and Mr Kulwant Singh Swami were present on the occasion.

Mandiani (Ludhiana), July 31
Residents of this and surrounding villages today fell in deep mourning after losing their link with Netaji Subhash Chander Bose when his body guards breathed his last here today.

Mehar Singh, an INA veteran, who remained a bodyguard of INA chief, died following a prolonged illness.

He was 85. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two grandsons. He was cremated in the evening and people from all walks of life participated in his funeral procession.

Loved by the villagers, who used to look after him after he chose to stay back leaving his family abroad, Mehar Singh's death left a void for nobody would narrate stories from freedom struggle to their children.

Villagers said that Mehar Singh was not feeling well since morning and they rushed him to Pandori Nursing Home at Mullanpur
Dakha. He was put on life support system there.

Later doctors referred him to Sobti Nursing Home at Ludhiana where he was declared brought dead.

Naib Tehsildar, Ludhiana West, Mr Navdeep Singh Sidhu, was the district administration's representative at the function. DSP
Dakha, Mr Raghubir Singh Sandhu, SHO Dakha, Mr Dharampal and some Akali leaders were also among those present.

Mehar Singh had spent the prime of his life for country's freedom. He was held captive in a Singapore jail. He had joined Indian National Army in 1940s and served as a body guard of Netaji Subhash Chander Bose at Singapore. He used to stand guard at the gate of INA chief's bungalow in Singapore, he had claimed in a recent interview with the Tribune.

Acknowledged for his contribution in the freedom struggle of India, he was declared a freedom fighter and given a ‘Tamra Patra’ by late Prime Minister, Ms Indira Gandhi. He was drawing Rs 6000 per month as pension by union and state governments.

Mehar Singh had suffered a stroke last year and was not keeping well since then. His left arm and leg were paralysed after the stroke. His wife, Balbir Kaur, who is an NRI, was by his side when he died. She visited India only a fortnight ago after she was informed that he was not keeping well.

Mehar Singh had chosen to stay in his country although his wife and two sons were settled in USA. He had gone there some years ago and came back to his native village preferring to stay alone.

Ludhiana, July 31
Due to flooding of offices of the Revenue Department in the mini-secretariat during the monsoon every year, the district administration has decided to shift the offices to other place.

Sources in the administration said the offices would be shifted to the PUDA house in Dugri. The work would start there by next week.

Confirming the development, Mr Ashok Kumar Gupta, Deputy Commissioner, said waterlogging was the perennial problem there. The public, who used to visit the office during the rainy season, suffered a lot. He, however, did not disclose the new place where the offices would be shifted.

Waterlogging of both offices of the Sub-Registrar (West) and the Sub-Registrar (East) has been a constant source of problem. Being located in the basement, the water entered the offices.

Mr A.K. Bhatnagar, Financial Commissioner (Revenue), during his recent visit to the office had also pointed out the problem.

The sources said Mr Bhatnagar wanted
shifting of the offices. Since then administrative officials had been trying to find out a suitable place.

The move is, however, not going well with deed writers and stamp vendors, who claim that there would be no place for them to sit and they would have to function from the mini-secretariat only.

They added that the administration should have shifted the office from the basement to some other floor in the same building.

The vendors said they were allotted kiosks in the mini-secretariat and if the registries would be done at Dugri, people would have to travel from the mini-secretariat to Dugri.

Rajgarh (Ludhiana), July 31
As many as 50 farmers in and around this village, with a landholding of over 400 acres, have agreed to shift from wheat-paddy cycle to flower and aromatic crops that would be supplied to a company.

The initiative in the direction to promote diversification was taken by Punjab National Bank (PNB), which financed the company, A.G. Fragrance. Mr I.D. Singh, general manager, Punjab zone, PNB, laid the foundation stone of the unit on Friday.

The processing unit for distillation of aromatic oils from rose, matricaria and tulsi will procure the produce from these 400 farmers it has entered into contract with. “These farmers will get an assured return of around Rs 1,500 per quintal. We plan to increase the area under contract from 400 acres to nearly 700 acres,” said Mr Gurmukh Singh of the company.

He said he was inspired to get engaged in this
field at a seminar held by the bank for farmers, after which he took loan from the bank and started Rajgarh Aromatic Oils last year. “Demand for aromatic oils comes from pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies and is quite high in this region. We entered into contract with 400 farmers for the company. Now we have started this company and will enter into contract with more farmers”.

He said the company, besides getting orders from within Indian market, had also obtained an order for supply of tuberose on an attractive price.

Mr Avtar Singh, a farmer from Gobindgarh village, who started growing tuberose last year, said: “I shifted from wheat-paddy cycle to growing tuberose last year. As the company promised assured returns, I got a market and my income has already crossed what it used to be earlier. The return is expected to be three times higher than what I got from adopting wheat and paddy.”

Mr I.D. Singh said the endeavour to promote diversification in agriculture by financing units like these was helping not only farmers but also giving employment to may. “This unit will give employment to nearly 400 persons, including women and students, from activities ranging from plucking of flowers, to packaging and various cultivation processes.”

He said the bank identified farmers after carefully going through their projects. “The best thing is that landholding does not matter. A farmer with a very small landholding too can get engaged and start reaping returns.”

He added that the high-tech agriculture branch in the city had already advanced Rs 37 crore towards various projects and planned to attain a target of Rs 100 crore shortly.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 31
Ramakant Parjapat is a carver from Kalyanpur village in Smastipur district of Bihar. Hailing from a potter family, the young artist has been figuring statues for private developers on order for more than seven years.

While talking to the Ludhiana Tribune, Mr Ramakant said he along with his associate artists had been figuring creations for various religious, social and commercial organizations but none of them ever asked them to carve a statue of a martyr or a patriot. Rather, demand for feminine statues had been increasing during past decade, maintained the artist.

Ramakant, who at present is working for a marriage palace being developed on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh road near Neelon Bridge, claimed that there had been decline in liking for sober and patriotic statues.

"Though we have not been asked to prepare statue of a great martyr, in certain cases kin of some martyrs and patriots came forward to commemorate their contribution by erecting their statues at chowks and commonplaces," said Mr Ramakant.

Even at educational institutes, management committees preferred to go by the interest of masses and statues according the taste of majority were erected.

Other members of family of Ramakant have been preparing utensils for sustaining their respective families. "When the pottery turned non-remunerative in our native state, I along with my associates shifted to Punjab and tried my luck at carving figures with cement. Innovative modeling supplemented with consistent efforts led to a situations when I used to distribute pieces of work received from my regular clients to junior artists," said Ramakant.

Management committees of temples and other religious places have been bringing brisk business for him. Goddess Durga, Goddess Luxmi and Saraswati are other artifacts demanded by the public.

Ludhiana, July 31
After facing music for the crime wave in the city, the local cops today finally had enough reasons to hold their head high when 30-odd cops were honoured with cash prizes and many of them
recommended for promotion to a higher rank in recognition of their
contribution in solving major crime case.

In an impressive function organised at the police lines today morning at 7 am, DIG Parag Jain and SSP A S Rai honoured these cops. Speaking on the
occasion, they said they believed in the carrot and stick policy in which the good work would be rewarded and bad punished.

They announced that for superb detection work in the Raghav Jeweller murder case and the double murder case of jeweller Drashan Singh and his wife Paramjit Kaur the cops including ASI Rajesh Kumar, ASI Anil Kumar,
ASI
Gurpreet Singh, constables-Nirbhai Singh, Devinder Singh, Harmesh Lal, Jaswinder Singh, Jatinder Singh, Prem Lal, Ravinder pal Singh, Rakesh Kumar and Napinder Kumar have been recommended for one higher rank than their present rank.

Mandi Gobindgarh, July 31
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) will launch a morcha from August 4 for the freedom of gurdwaras, declared Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President of the Akali Dal. He was addressing a large gathering at the local Singh Sabha gurdwara here on Friday.

About four dozen SAD activists announced their joining of Akali Dal (Amritsar) in protest against the failure of SAD (Badal) to preserve the sanctity and use of Sikh shrines from political usage. Mr Mann honoured the new entrants into his party with ‘siropas’.

Mr Mann flayed Mr Badal, who accompanied by
Jathedar Vedanti, went to meet the BJP Chief Rajnath Singh without caring for the Akal Takht ‘hukamnama’ issued against the RSS.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 31
Leaders of various political and social organisations joined the funeral procession of Sazida Begum, a former MLA and the fourth Begum of Nawab Ifatkhar Ali. The body of Sazida Begum, who breathed her last at Fortis Hospital in Mohali on Sunday, was buried at Shahi Graveyard in Malerkotla today.

Sazida Begum, the youngest wife of the erstwhile ruler was a Congress leader and was known as a close confidant of Giani Zail Singh, former president of India.

She joined the Congress in 1972 and was elected MLA twice. Besides acting as General Secretary of the PPCC she served the party as an active member of the IACC.

After feeling ignored in the party she joined the SAD but was denied ticket during 2002 Assembly elections. She then retired from active politics.

She had not been keeping good health since long and her relatives had been managing her treatment during this time.

Her condition worsened after she was taken for dialysis at a private hospital in Chandigarh from where she was shifted to Fortis Hospital, Mohali. She passed away at
the hospital in the evening.

Meanwhile, the civil administration deployed police in a portion of Sheesh Mehal, the residence of the deceased as a case regarding its ownership rights is pending in a court.

Ludhiana, July 31
Hundreds of activists of the Communist party of India (CPI) held a rally today at the Clock Tower Chowk to condemn the Israeli aggression on Lebanon and Palestine.

Dr Arun Mitra, assistant secretary, said the misadventure had resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and escalated into a serious humanitarian crisis. He expressed serious concern over the stranded Indians there. He demanded more effective steps for their evacuation.

Various speakers demanded immediate cessation of aggression and an end to violence. If cease-fire is delayed, the greater the loss of life and massive destruction of human lives and infrastructure. Continued fighting also increases the danger of escalation into a large scale war in a volatile region.

The speakers said it was a wake-up call for the revival of nuclear disarmament and the establishment of a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East.

Those present condemned the role of the US who had opposed any ceasefire. The mild response from Indian Government was also condemned.

A resolution was passed on the occasion and demanded immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, immediate cease-fire in the region, start of negotiations under the UN and evacuation of the Gaza strip and other areas of Palestine illegally occupied by Israel.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 31
The Sukhmani Sewa Society felicitated Malerkotla SDM Dr Indu for spearheading crusade against social evils in coordination with social and religious organisations of the area.

Addressing a gathering at MGMN Senior Secondary School, Baba Budha Gurmat Parchar Trust chairman and society office-bearer Darshan Singh said Dr Indu had played a pivotal role in coordinating with various social and religious organisations to root out social evils.

He said Dr Indu had helped many individuals shun addiction and other social evils.

He added that she had been contributing towards fight against social evils like drug addiction, illiteracy, gender bias and degradation of the environment.

Dr Indu appreciated the role of local organisations in restructuring the society.

She referred to projects undertaken by the Eco Club, the Ram Sharnam Ashram, the Subhash Chander Bose Society for the Blind, the Journalist Association, the Punjab Mahavir Dal, the Durga Dal, the Luxmi Narayan Sewa Society and the Sukhmani Sewa Society.

“As an administrator of the area it is my duty to keep in touch with all residents,” said Dr Indu.

Ludhiana, July 31
As part of the 794th Urs of Sufi Saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer, the
Aashiq-e-Khwaja, a society running an old-age home and child home, will organise Urs for the fifth consecutive year here.

The 794th Urs is being organised at Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan where the holy shrine of the Saint is located.

During the annual Urs at Ajmer, lakhs of devotees from all over the world visit the shrine to offer prayers.

According society president Kulwinder Singh, the Urs will be held in Ludhiana on August 1 at Sacha Sauda Market on the Ferozepore road.

It will facilitate those devotees who could not make it to the Ajmer shrine to take part in the Urs there.

The function is scheduled to commence at 7.20 pm with Roshni (traditional lighting of candle brought from Ajmer Sharif) followed by a community kitchen.

Ludhiana, July 31
District Chairman of Inner Wheel Club awarded Ms Ruby Fernandas, President, Inner Wheel Club, Ludhiana, with the ‘best president’ of Inner Wheel, for the year 2005-06. The secretary, Ms Madhu Qamra, was given the award for being ‘the most capable secretary’ at a function held in Lily Resorts near Jalandhar here yesterday.

The Nirdosh School for Mentally Challenged children run by members of Inner Wheel Club, Ludhiana, was awarded the best project of District 3070 by District Chairman Roop Arora.

Ms Shikha, Director, Blue Foods group: “This is the first outlet in Punjab. We plan to open more restaurants as we foresee high potential here.”

The group would offer Indian, Mexican, Thai, Italian, Lebanese and Chinese Foods.

CRIME

Man booked for bid to rape
Our Correspondent

Jagraon, July 31
The Dakha police has booked Charan Singh of Khandur for bid to rape a 14-yr-old girl of the village.
The police has registered a case under Sections 376 and 511, IPC. No arrest has been made.

Bootlegging:
Four persons have been booked by the Jagraon and Sidhwan Bet police in separate incidents.

In second case, Kamaljit Singh of Madhepur was arrested by the Sidhwan Bet police from Khurshaidpur village for carrying over 30 litres of illicit liquor.

Also, Resham Singh of Slaimpura was held by the Sidhwan Bet police with around 14 litres of illicit liquor.

Another man, Deepa Singh, a resident of Moga, was held from Tehsil Chowk and 18 litres of illicit liquor were seized from him. The police has registered cases against the accused.

Dowry case:
Chamkaur Singh, son of Baljit Singh, and Harjinder Kaur, wife of Sheetal Singh, were booked by the Jagraon police for harassing Hardip Kaur, wife of Chamkaur Singh, and demanding dowry from her.

The local police has registered a case under Section 498-A, IPC, against the two.

Drugs seized:
Sarabjit Singh of Leelan village has been arrested by the Sudhar police and a cache of drugs, including 16 box of rexogesic injections, 70 boxes of Avil, 190 boxes of Intel, 200 tablets of Nitrazefan and 25 packets of Lomotal, seized from him.

The police has registered a case under Sections 22, 61 and 85, NDPS Act.

Cheating cases:
Three persons have been booked for cheating by the Raikot police in two incidents. The Raikot police booked Balour Singh of Jalaldiwal on the charge of sending persons abroad on false documents.

In second case, Pyara Singh and Nachhattar Singh of Chak Bhaika were booked by the Raikot police for duping Resham Singh of Mehal Khurd village of Rs 2 lakh.

The police has registered a case.

8 booked for assault:
Eight persons have been booked by Jagraon, Sudhar, Dakha and Raikot police in four cases.

Daljit Singh, alias Pola, of Saholi village along with other unknown persons assaulted Harjinder Singh of Akalgarh. The Sudhar police has registered a case under Sections 324, 34 and 506, IPC. The complainant has been admitted to the Civil Hospital, Sudhar.

In second case, the Dakha police booked Raju of Mullanpur, Rempy of Parjapat along with some unknown persons under Sections 341, 324, 148 and 149, IPC, on the complaint of Davinder Singh of Mullanpur. He accused them of beating him up. The complainant has been admitted to the Civil Hospital, Dakha.

In third incident, the Raikot police registered a case under Sections 341, 323, 506 and 34, IPC, against Vijay Kumar and Sarabjit Singh of Raikot and Gurvinder Singh of Andlu for beating up Gurcharan Singh.

Finally, Joga Singh and his wife Sarabjit Kaur of Cheemna village were booked by the local police for allegedly assaulting Sarwan Singh of their village. The complainant has been admitted to the Civil Hospital, Jagraon.